Creating Content and Being Findable Leads to More Attendees and Members

An event blog and must-read content on your web site are powerful tools for attracting members and attendees.

In a recent Hubspot webinar, “How to Use SEO and Social Search for Lead Generation“, I learned that 45% of companies who blog have gotten revenue from that blog. And, those companies who blog increase web site visitors by 55% over those who do not.

Your association or conference is the same as any other business. You are trying to attract more attendees, sponsors and exhibitors to your event, and members to your organization.

With Google being one of the most popular web sites in the world, being found on the Internet is extremely important.

If you’re considering creating a event blog or updating your existing web site, here are techniques (by time period) shared by Hubspot that can help your web site rank higher in Google.

Pre-2000

• Use a lot of keywords in your title and body of your pages – technique not used much anymore
• Use meta data descriptions and keywords – technique not used much anymore

2000 – 2010

• Use some keywords in your title and body of your pages
• Create useful content (tips, ideas, etc.)
• Promote content in social media outposts and via email
• Use call to action on your pages

2010 – Future

• Publish more and more content (blogs are great – publish 3-4 times per week)
• Be active in social media, often
• Build large volumes of followers in social media
• Use call to action on your pages

In a nutshell, you need a content marketing strategy and you need to keep moving forward with the plan if you want to keep your organization front and center. And, no longer can you hide behind the fear of social media. Rather you should embrace it as your friend as it is playing an important role in your organization being found and staying relevant.

Three Great Resources on Blogging and Creating Content

• Building an Event Blog – Recorded Webinar by Maddie Grant and Lindy Dreyer
• Awesome Articles on Blogging – Coree Silvera (must read!)
• How to Create Compelling Content That Ranks Well in Search Engines – Scribe